Damper regclatok



E. io. YOUNG DAMPER REGULATOR Feb. 16, 1943.

Filed Feb. 24. 1941 QQ/W7 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 16, 1943 UNITED STATES :PATENT GFFICE DAMPER REGULATOR Ema o. Yeung, cleveland, ohio Application February 24, 1 941, Serial No. 380,347

(ci. sis- 106) 2 Claims.

y f The present invention appertains to the art 'of dampers of the type disposed in flues, conduits, and the like, for cutting oif or deflecting the huid, such as air cooledl or heated, that is passing through the ue and which may be supplied to an outlet or similar opening of the flue, usually covered by a grille or register.

The invention resides primarily inthe specific operating Vmeans for the regulator by which the damper or damper plate is moved in the flue so as to perform its regular function of cutting off or deflecting the air or fluid that passes through the iiue.

Damper plates of the type to which the invention is applied are comprised of a plate pivoted at one end so as to swing across the flue diametrically, and because of the swinging movement of the plate, it is necessary that a flexible controlling or operating device for the damper be provided, one which permits of the peculiar vswinging movement of the damper and yet prevents binding or friction of the connections between the operating part and the damper plate itself.

The invention comprises a novel and advantageous operating device for dampers of the type answering the above requisites.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure l is a sectional view `taken through a flue or conduit having an outlet 4at which the damper is located, and showing the operating means of the regulator as made in accordance with the invention, full lines illustrating the damper open, and dotted lines illustrating the disposition of the parts when the damper is closed.

Figure 2 is a View showing more particularly the operating parts of the control device, the holding or adjusting means being shown in section and a conventional form of crank applied to the outer end of the operating shaft as when the latter is to be turned for rotating the screw rod by which the damper is moved.

Figure 3 is a front view of the parts shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a detail cross sectional view on the line 4--4 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a side View somewhat fragmentary showing a modification of the invention in which remote control means in the form of a sprocket and sprocket chain are used to actuate the operating member of the regulator.

Figure 6 is a sectional Iview taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5 modification.

Describing the invention specifically, A in Figure 1 illustrates a flue lor conduit, in which is located lthe damper or valve B, the member B being pivoted or hinged at one end, as shown at I, to a wall of the flue, and being adapted to close and open the passage between the flue A and the -outlet C for said flue, the latter being merely a casing extension of the flue at the damper opening leading from the conduit A into the member C.

A grille or register 2 may be applied to the outer end of the outlet casing C and will be iiush with the wall of a room or compartment, a customary disposition of such member 2 well known in the art. Y i

For the operation of the damper B, I employ la screw threaded actuating rod 3, This rod'is pivoted at 4 to a yoke member 5 having a sec- Aond yoke member 6 rigidly attached thereto and disposed transversely of the yoke member'5. The yoke member 6 is. pivotedA at 1 to an operating shaft `Ii of square formationl in cross section, and the latter passes through the rotatable head 9 which vis equipped with a square opening to receive the part 8. y

The Ypart -8 is pinned Vor otherwise attached at I9 to the head 9 so as'to connect these parts together against longitudinal displacement of the member 8 relatively tothe member 9. The member 9 is p-rovidedlwitli a threaded extension 9a at its vouter portion,land said member 9 has the body thereof tapered slightly to provide an inclined outer wall shown at II.

A housing or indicator plate I2 receives the head 9 and is attached by any suitable bolts or like means I3v to the body of the grille or register 2, as seen best in Figure l, The outer surface of the indicator plate I2 may have dial indicia, not illustrated, so as to cooperate with the indicia on the outer end of the member 8 whereby to indicate the open and closed positions of the damper and show intermediate positions. This indicia is not illustrated since it is well known in the art.

An adjusting or holding nut I4 is screwed upon the threaded extension 9a of the head 9 and adapted to engage the outer surface of the housing I2 so that by screwing the nut I4 against the housing, the head 9 is pulled tightly against the inner face of the outermost portion of the housing and the operating shaft 8 is thus held in an adjusted or locked position with the damper 3 correspondingly held.

The members 5 and Ii with their pivotal connections respectively to the parts 3 and 8 provide a universal joint.

For attachment of the screw rod 3 to the damper B, I provide an attachment plate I5, se cured to the damper B and having spaced iianges I6, in which is pivoted the connecting plate I1. The plate II has pivot lugs I8 disposed in openings in the flanges I6, and, therefore, the pivot plate I1 is rockingly mounted in the flanges I6, so that it may swing.

For receiving the rod 3, the plate I'I is formed with a threaded opening at I'Ia, through which the screw rod 3 may pass and establishing a connection between the rod and the damper B. A

cotter pin I9, or a nut r any equivalent stop means, may be applied to the inner end of the.

screw rod 3 to form a stop to prevent the same from being disconnected from the. plate I'I.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that by rotation of the screw rod 3, the damper B may be shifted inwardly and outwardly, and by reason of the pivotal mounting of the plate .I'I and the provision `of the universal joint means 4, 5, 6, and 1, the connecting parts between the operating shaft 8 and the damper B will not bind but the rod 3 will freely swing as required during the swinging movement of the damper B as it is shifted between its open and closed positions illustrated in Figure 1, by full and dotted lines respectively.

The operation of the invention simply involves turning of the shaft 8, which may be performed by using a wrench or any suitable means convenient, such as a crank D which consists of a plate 20 having a square opening to receive the outer end of the shaft 8 and a handle member 2| to be grasped for locating the plate 20 of the crank D in an obvious manner.

'I'he shaft 8 is, of course, turned for regulating the adjustment of the damper B after loosening the nut I4 so as to permit the head 9 and shaft 8 to turn freely relatively to the housing I2. After adjustment of the damper, the nut I 4 may be tightened to hold the damper at its desired adjustment.

Figures and 6 illustrate a simple modication of the invention, wherein there is ailxed by a set screw 22 to the outer end of the shaft 8 a sprocket wheel 23from which leads off a sprocket chain 24 to a point of remote control. A'curved housing member 25 may be attached to the housing I 2 to overlie the sprocket wheel and chain and prevent dust from lodging thereon, as well as to perform a certain function of a guard member.

Obviously, the shaft 8 may be turned by manipulating whatever means is employed to operate the sprocket chain 24. The nut I4, according to Figures 5 and 6, is accessible from below to be turned by an open jaw wrench to enable it to be loosened and tightened, as described in reference to the construction in Figures 1 to 4 of the drawing.

It is obvious from the foregoing description of the construction of my invention that the operating shaft 8 and its head 9 may be located in any convenient position on a wall or supported by a grille or register 2, and irrespective of said position, by reason of its mode of connection with the damper B and the use of the universal joint means between the shaft 8 and the screw rod 3, the damper B may be readily moved between its open and closed positions without any binding or restriction of movement because of the manner of attaching the parts 8 and B.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. A damper regulator comprising a support, a damper movably connected therewith, an actuating rod for the damper having screw connection therewith, an operating shaft disposed at one end of the screw for turning same, and a joint connection between the operating shaft and said screw comprising a yoke pivotally connected at one end to the screw, a yoke pivotally connected at one end to the shaft, and a rigid connection between adjacent ends of said yokes.

2. A' damper regulator comprising a support, a damper pivoted at one end to the said support, a rod having screw threaded connection with the damper, an operating shaft at one end of the rod and disposed at an angle thereto, and a joint connection between the shaft and adjacent end of the rod comprising a yoke part pivotally connected at one end to the adjacent end of the rod, a second yoke part pivotally connected at its opposite end to an end of the operating shaft, adjacent ends of the yoke parts opposite their pivotal connections'with the parts to which they are respectively attached being rigidly connected, the open sides of the yoke members being disposed at rightkangles to each other.

EMIL O. YOUNG. 

